' 484 



MANUAL OF GARDENING 



short intervals. A moist location should be chosen for the July and 

 August sowings. The early and late sowings should be of some loose- 

 growing variety, as they are in edible condition sooner than the cabbage 

 or heading varieties. 



The cabbage varieties are far superior to the loose-growing kinds 

 for salads. To be grown to perfection, they should have very rich soil, 

 frequent cultivation, and an occasional stimulant, such as hquid ma- 

 nure or nitrate of soda. 



The cos lettuce is an upright-growing type much esteemed in 

 Europe, but less grown here. The leaves of the full-grown plants are 

 tied together, thus blanching the center, making it a desirable salad or 

 garnishing variety. It thrives best in summer. 



One ounce of seed will grow 3000 plants or sow 100 feet of drill. In 

 the garden, plants may stand 6 inches apart in the rows, and the rows 

 may be as close together as the system of tillage will allow. 



Mushroom. — Sooner or later, the novice wants to grow mushrooms. 

 While it is easy to describe the conditions under which they may be 

 grown, it does not follow that a crop may be j^redicted with any cer- 

 tainty. 



Latterly, careful studies have been made of the growing of mush- 

 rooms from spores and of the principles involved in the making of 

 spawn, with the hope of reducing the whole subject of mushroom 

 growing to a rational basis. A good idea of this work may be had by 

 reading Duggar's contribution on the subject in Bulletin 85 of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. 

 In this place, however, we may confine ourselves to the customary 

 horticultural practice. 



The following paragraphs are from " Farmers' Bulletin/' No. 53 

 (by William Falconer), of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (March, 

 1897) :— 



Mushrooms are a winter crop, coming in from September till April 

 or May — that is, the work of preparing the manure begins in Septem- 

 ber and ends in February, and the packing of the crop begins in Octo- 

 ber or November and ends in May. Under extraordinary conditions 

 the season may begin earlier and last longer, and, in fact, it may con- 

 tinue all summer. 



